FORT WORTH -- Santa Claus may not be allowed in the classrooms of the Fort Worth school district, but administrators want the public to know that he's not banned from schools.
"Fort Worth ISD loves Santa Claus and continues to support his universal message of generosity and kindness," officials said in a statement posted on the school district's website Friday morning."Santa Claus is welcome to visit our schools. He can be in the lobby. He can be in the cafeteria. He can be in the auditorium. He can be in the school, around the school. But he cannot visit the classroom while the teacher is teaching," interim Superintendent Walter Dansby said in the statement.District officials issued the statement to clarify what it said may be confusion about the district's rules on Santa Claus and Christmas celebrations.The issue drew criticism after the Star-Telegram reported on updated guidelines for the holidays, which say that Santa Claus is not allowed to visit classes and that students aren't permitted to exchange cards or gifts during classes.The news drew the attention of national media. Parent Brandon Brewer taped an interview Friday for The Early Show on CBS, he said. It also drew the attention of conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly, who listed it in a daily briefing on his website.On Tuesday, the Fort Worth district's chief of schools, Robert Ray, addressed the matter in a letter addressed to principals and copied to all top district and campus administrators. He attached a legal opinion from the district's chief counsel, Bertha Bailey Whatley."No instructional time may be devoted to classroom visits by characters associated with holidays (Santa Claus, Easter bunnies, Cupids, etc.). PTAs (parent-teacher associations) or parent groups may choose to sponsor such activities, but they shall not occur during the instructional day," Ray wrote.Ray told principals earlier in the week, "Students shall not exchange cards or gifts, nor shall they distribute personal holiday messages."Asked Thursday to clarify the directive, district spokesman Clint Bond told the Star-Telegram in an e-mail, "Students are allowed to exchange holiday cards or gifts before school, after school or during lunch. This guidance would be applicable to all observances and holidays."On Friday, Dansby issued another note on the district's website, saying students may exchange cards and gifts at the beginning and of class but not during classroom instruction.Jessamy Brown,817-390-7326Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
